Recapping the 2019 MFFL Trade Deadline transactions

The 2019 MFFL trade deadline has passed and there was heavy action around the league right down to the final few hours.

Here’s a team-by-team breakdown of the buyers, sellers, and contentment dwellers.

Bangkok Blitz

To say that the Blitz were sellers at the trade deadline would be a massive understatement. After about four weeks of action, Bangkok’s new ownership began to see the writing on the wall and recognized the need for change in the organization. The team pivoted and began preparation for the 2020 season, benching its talent and aiming for the No. 1 pick in next year’s draft. Ahead of the deadline, Bangkok dealt running back Todd Gurley for wide receiver Christian Kirk and Ukraine’s 2020 1st Round Pick — among other assets exchanged. They also dealt receivers Dede Westbrook and Robby Anderson to Egypt for quarterback Dak Prescott and a 2020 3rd Round Pick. They then reached an agreement to send wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins to Russia for young receivers Michael Gallup and Mecole Hardman, along with a 2020 1st Round Pick and a 2020 Second Round pick. Lastly, the Blitz sent receiver Stefon Diggs to Nagasaki in a deal for JuJu Smith-Schuster, J.J. Arcega-Whiteside, Darwin Thompson and a 2020 2nd Round Pick. With the deadline passed, the Blitz can sit back and watch those losses roll in on their way to securing the first pick in next year’s draft and a chance at a brighter (and clearer) 2020.

Christmas Island Crabs

Christmas Island was a buyer at this year’s trade deadline. The team first acquired running back Royce Freeman from Egypt for Ronald Jones and a 2020 3rd Round Pick. Next, they swung a deal with Russia, sending Tyler Boyd and a 2020 1st Round Pick to Russia for running back Austin Ekeler and wide receiver D.J. Moore. The Crabs are attempting to keep pace with the Kamikazes in the East Division and the Southeast Conference in general. They’re two games out of first in the East Division but have a one-game lead for the first wild card in the Southeast Conference. The Crabs have been a Top 4 scoring team over the past three weeks and are building momentum for their playoff run.

Ecuador Ewoks

Ecuador chose to stand pat at the trade deadline, neither buying nor selling assets. The Ewoks have faced a rash of injuries, including one to the MFFL’s highest-paid player, running back David Johnson. Surely, a number of teams had to have interest in free-agent-to-be Ezekiel Elliott, but the Ewoks held firm to their best player. The Ewoks have an outside chance at reaching the 2019 postseason, but have a tough final three games of the season. With only two picks — both third rounders — in next year’s draft, the Ewoks will have to get creative in the auction to turn around their fortunes next year.

Egypt Pharaohs

Egypt stayed mostly content at this season’s trade deadline, although they did upgrade their receiver depth chart by acquiring Dede Westbrook and Robby Anderson from Bangkok in exchange for backup quarterback Dak Prescott and a 2020 3rd Round Pick. Egypt has one draft pick next year — a 3rd rounder — so they’re all in for this season. The Pharaohs are a game out of first place in the South Division and are tied with the Wookiees of Wake Island for the final wild card spot in the Southeast. The Pharaohs are hoping to stem the tide until MVP quarterback Patrick Mahomes returns from injury.

Jamaica Jerks

One of the MFFL’s best and highest-scoring teams stayed mostly content at the deadline. The Jerks did elect to shirk the brewing backfield timeshare by shipping off Melvin Gordon and Austin Ekeler to Russia for running backs Tevin Coleman and Jordan Howard and quarterback Carson Wentz, among other assets. Jamaica’s powerful backfield has been a force to be reckoned with this season and the team hopes to ride that wave into the postseason in what looks to be a very tough Northwest Conference playoff picture. Looking ahead, Jamaica has three picks in the 2020 MFFL Draft, none of which originally belonged to them. The most valuable asset appears to be Switzerland’s 1st Round Pick, which — if the season ended today — would be the No. 2 overall selection. The rich will get richer next offseason.

Nagasaki Kamikazes

Nagasaki was one of the most active participants ahead of the 2019 MFFL trade deadline as they attempt to keep pace with some of the ball clubs ahead of them. The Kamikazes looked to shore up their ground game with a pair of trades. The first was a deal with Switzerland that sent young receivers James Washington, Dante Pettis, Deebo Samuel and Andy Isabella, along with a 2020 2nd Round Pick, to the Squirrels for running back James Conner. Nagasaki then shipped underperforming, restricted-free-agent-to-be Joe Mixon to Egypt for Mark Ingram and his more-consistent production. Lastly, the Kamikazes likewise traded underperforming, restricted-free-agent-to-be JuJu Smith-Schuster, among other assets, to the Blitz for Stefon Diggs. Hours before the trade deadline, Nagasaki swapped 2nd Round Picks (Switzerland’s for Russia’s) with the Renegades in exchange for cash to help pay down salaries next season.

Russia Renegades

Were the Renegades buyers or sellers at the trade deadline? How about Buyllers? The team made moves to both acquire key pieces for a playoff run but also to prepare for next year. The Renegades shipped Derrick Henry and Calvin Ridley to Turkey for Tevin Coleman and a 2020 1st Round Pick. The team then turned around and sent Coleman, along with several other young pieces, to Jamaica for the combination of Melvin Gordon and Austin Ekeler. Russia then rolled Ekeler over along with D.J. Moore and shipped them to Christmas Island for another 2020 1st Round Pick plus wide receiver Tyler Boyd. Finally, the Renegades sent one of their four 1st Round Picks, plus young receivers Michael Gallup and Mecole Hardman, to Bangkok for wideout DeAndre Hopkins. The Renegades also swapped second round picks and acquired a third round pick in exchange for cash just before the deadline. The Renegades hope to compete in an ultra-tight Northwest Conference playoff picture while also looking ahead to the 2020 draft with several high picks.

San Juan Scorpions

The defending Super Bowl champions made quite the noise — by San Juanian standards — in the days leading up to the trade deadline. The Scorpions have been plagued by injuries and — dare we say — old age this season as the team has lacked some of the scoring punch that propelled them to a championship a season ago. The Scorpions used the Jaws of Life to pry away fan-favorite Adam Thielen from Switzerland, along with fellow receiver Robert Woods. In return, San Juan shipped off ailing receivers A.J. Green and T.Y. Hilton, along with cash and draft picks. Looking ahead, the Scorpions have several key contributors entering free agency next offseason, so tough decisions will have to be made. But in the meantime, the Scorpions are poised to get back to the playoffs once again while also attempting to chase down the Jerks in the West Division.

Switzerland Squirrels

Switzerland was a seller at this year’s trade deadline, acquiring several young assets, along with some veteran contributors, in their pursuit of rebuilding a winner. The Squirrels first sent the collective Steelers backfield to Nagasaki for young wideouts James Washington, Dante Pettis, Deebo Samuel and Andy Isabella, along with a 2020 2nd Round Pick. The ball club then shipped away favorite Adam Thielen and Robert Woods to the Scorpions for veterans A.J. Green and T.Y. Hilton, both injured at the moment but both under contract for next season to help expedite the rebuild. Unfortunately for the Squirrels, they swapped first-round picks with Jamaica before the season began, thus they won’t reap the benefits of a high first-round pick in next year’s draft. The Squirrels do have two draft picks next year, plus the flexibility to trade for more with several young players under contract beyond this season.

Turkey Jerky

Turkey was mostly quiet at the trade deadline, choosing to stand pat, save for one move. The Jerky sent running back Tevin Coleman and a 2020 1st Round Pick to Russia for Derrick Henry and young wideout Calvin Ridley. Turkey is poised to make a serious playoff run, having finished Top 5 in scoring in three of the last four weeks. The Jerky currently lead the South Division and are tied with Christmas Island for second-best record in the Southeast Conference. Turkey has no draft picks next year, and has only six non-kickers and defenses under contract beyond 2019. So, it’s playoffs or bust for them this year and they will likely have to be aggressive players in the auction in 2020.

Ukraine Grainers

As the MFFL’s highest-scoring team, as well as the club tied for the best record, the Grainers didn’t have to make any moves ahead of this year’s trade deadline. But that doesn’t mean they were ready to stand pat. The Grainers first shipped their own 2020 1st Round Pick, plus wide receiver Christian Kirk, among other assets, to the Bangkok Blitz for running back Todd Gurley. Ukraine later sent running back Latavius Murray and a 2020 2nd Round Pick to San Juan for young back Justice Hill. The Grainers clearly maintained the line of balance between competing for a title this season while keeping an eye toward building for the future.

Wake Island Wookiees

Neither buyers nor sellers, the Wookiees remained dormant at the trade deadline, electing to roll with what they have. Wake Island has just two players up for free agency at season’s end, so unless the club chooses to make some moves in the offseason, what you see is what you get for 2020. Wake Island is two games out of first in the East Division as well as tied with Egypt for the second wild card spot in the Southeast Conference. The bright spot for the Wookiees is that they have two consecutive games against tanking ball clubs, plus they face the Pharaohs in the regular-season finale, making it a likely must-win game.